You're Doing It Wrong

So I was reading this very excellent article in the New York Times (I know, lawdy dah...look at me, I read the NY Times), it was about marathon running specifically on a growing trend of people who run barefooted.  Of course, what really struck me was this ongoing debate that shoes really do nothing for a person (except, you know, hide ugly feet I guess).  Now while I don't completely agree with that statement, I think there might be some merit to going barefooted.  Although I wouldn't recommend trying such a thing in the Midwest this time of year.

Another thing that struck me (I get struck a lot), the author mentioned a type of running from the Tarahumaras Indians known as a "whisper-soft stride".  I know Indian is not politically correct but it's the word the author used so sue me.  Actually, don't do that...sue him instead.  Anyway, it got me to thinking that maybe I've been running (Hahaha...I don't do that much) or walking wrong.  I started thinking how great would it be if I could adopt a "whisper walk" and sneak up on people like a ninja?  My wife thinks I suffer from fallen arches so maybe my new "whisper walk" would fix that too. 

I plan to experiment with this new way of walking.  So don't be surprised when I sneak up on you without making a sound.  I already feel sorry for my mother...she startles easy.

Back to the real point of this blog post, I run into so many occasions of so-called experts and loud-mouthed opinionated types who are always trying to tell us simple folk that the way we do things...well, it just ain't right.  You open the door by turning the knob to the left?  Psh, turn it to the right.  You start brushing your teeth from top to bottom?  Are you crazy...bottom to top, fool!  Don't you get tired of people telling you that "you're doing it wrong"?  I mean, while I enjoyed the article...it just made me sigh in the end.  It's a neat idea but I'm not quite sure it would work for me.  Except for the "whisper walk" technique, now that has merit.

If you'd like to read the article, here's the link:  Running The Right Way  (check out the diagram on the proper way to run)